Kottiyoor Shiva Temples

Kottiyoor Shiva Temples are an important pilgrimage destination in the eastern highlands of Kannur district, Kerala. The sacred complex consists of two Shiva shrines, Akkare Kottiyoor and Ikkare Kottiyoor, positioned on opposite banks of the Bavali River in a forested Western Ghats setting. The two temples have different physical characters: Ikkare is a formal temple complex, while Akkare is known for its open, nature-linked worship area centred on a stone platform.

Kottiyoor is especially famous for the annual Vaisakha Mahotsavam, a 28-day festival generally held during May and June. Kerala Tourism notes that Akkare Kottiyoor opens only during the festival period, while the wider pilgrimage traditions include distinctive offerings and riverbank rituals associated with the site’s mythology. Outside festival planning, travellers should remember that access patterns and temple practices vary between the two shrines.

Kottiyoor combines religious importance with a striking natural setting of river, forest and hills, making it one of the most distinctive pilgrimage landscapes in North Kerala.